Train-coaler



s. L. BOULDIN.

mm coma. APPLICATION FILED OCT- 16, 1920-- 1,398,833, Patented Nov. 29, 1921;

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- o k) I h Bozoldin L INVENTOR TnAIN-COALER:

messes.-

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 29, rear.v

Applicationfiled' October 16, 1920- Serial No. 417,354. r

To all whom-it may concern;

Be it known that'I, SA UEL LLOYD BOUL- nng-a citizen otthe: United States, residing at Oswego, in the county of Labette and State of Kansas,.have invented new and useful.Improvements in. Train-Coalers, of which the. following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements. in

apparatus designed particularly for, use in coaling, tra1ns, wh1le inmotlon, such means providingfor thecontrol by the approaching train of the. discharge from the; coal hopper, so that the coal will. be delivered to the tender without the necessity of stopping the train.

The invention contemplates the use oia coal hopper into which the coal. maybe dumped-from anysuitable carrier, the-hope.

per having ahinged-bottom controlled by a latch, there being means. arranged along the sides of. the railway track fortripping the latch to release the bottom and permit the discharge of coal. A cooperating'means: is arranged in the engine and the latteris adjusted by the engineer in accordance with the speed of travel of the train, so that a particular portion of the track carried tripping means will be operated in order that the discharge of coal maybe had; when thctender is beneath the hopper.v

The-nature and advantages of the invention will be better understood when the following. detail description is readin connection with the accompanying drawings, the invention residing in theconstruction, combination and arrangement of parts as claimed.

In the drawings forming a part of this application like, numerals of reference inclicate similar parts in the several views and wherein: I

Figure 1 is a View in elevation showing the track, the coal hopper arranged above the same and a trip mechanism arranged on the track.

Fig. 2 is a plan illustrating the track carried trip mechanism. 1

Fig. 3 is an enlarged bottom plan ofthe coal hopper showing particularly the latch mechanism.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the coal hopper showing the means for returning the hinged bottom to closed position following the discharge of the coal,

Fig. 5is a detail View of the trip mechanism arranged on the track.

Fig. 6* isa view in elevation showing the engine carried means whereby the trip mechanism or the particular portion thereof is operatedby the engineer. 1 V Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the engine carried means.

The coaling apparatus includes a hopper 1 ofappropriate size supported above the track 2 andpreferably provided with tracks 3 leading from the usual support and arranged adjacent the upper end of the'hopper so that the coal cars of convenient type may be run on said track 3 and discharged into the hopper to fill the latter. The hop.- per is provided withabottom hinged at 5 to one side wall of the hopper and provided with extended arms 6 having terminal weights 7, the weights being of a capacity to close the bottom. 4: when the contents of.- the hopper have been discharged. Securedwon' the bottom of the hopper is alatch mechanism including latch bar 8 slidably mounted at 9 and operated in the latching direction by a spring 10. The bottom 4 of the hopper is provided with a keeper 11 with which the nose end or the closure 4-.

latch bar 8 is ada )ted to engage to hold the bottom in closed position and support the load of coal within the hopper. An arm 12 is secured to the latch bar 8 and projects laterally thereon in order to providethe desired leverage for the convenient operationof such latch bar against the weight of the load of coal. A cable 18 is connected to one end of the arm 12 and is in turn connected to oppositely disposed cables 14 and 15, the latter passing over fixed pulleys 16 arranged upon any convenient support. The cables 14; and 15 extend in opposite directions lengthwise of the track 2 and pass over suitable guides and the sustaining pulleys 17 the free end of the respective cables being connected to a plurality of depending arm's herein shown at 21 22 and 23. The

arms just mentioned are pivoted at their parallel limbs 27 of which are connected at a point in thei length by a cross piece 28. The limbs 27 of this trip element are slidable through guides 29 carried by the engine, the limbs 27 being carried at the opposite operating lever 31 is pivoted at a point between its ends as at 32 upon a bracket 33 which bracket is formed with a toothed segment 34. The lever 31 has a slotted portion 35 which projects through the slotof the engine, the cross piece 28 of the trip element 26 passing through the slot ofthe lever. Manit'estly the trip element 26 is operable at the will of the engineer and so arranged that when projected a certain distance above the engine, said element will engage the final and longest arm 23, the trip element 26 being maintained in the positions just mentioned by means of a dog 36 engaging one tooth of the segment 3a. The element 26 may be adjusted to the proper distance above the engine to engage anyone of the three arms indicated at 21, 22 and 23. Vith the hopper l loaded with coal, the engineer will set the trip arm in accordance with the speed of the train at the time a load is being dumped. If traveling at a certain speed, for example ten miles an hour, he will set the element 26 to engage the first and shortest arm 21 ot the trip mechanism. The relative arrangementof the parts just described is such that under the conditions the latch bar 8 will be operated and the bottom released so thatv the tender will reach a position below the hopper as such bottom is released and the load from the hopper discharged. For faster speed, the other arms 22 and 23 are tripped as desired, discharging the coal at the proper interval, in accordance with the speed of travel of the train.

lVhile it is believed that from the foregoing description the nature and advantages otthe invention will be apparent, I desire tohave it understood that I do not limit myself to what is herein shown and desides of a slot 80 provided in the engine. An

hopper arranged above the track, a bottom scribed and that such. changes may be resorted to when desiredas fallwithin the scope of what is claimed. i

lVh-atl claim is 1.1K coal loading"device comprising a hinged to the hopper, means for holding the bottom in closed position, arms of different lengths pivoted above the track, a cable for tripping said means, said cable being connected with said arms, and a trip bar carried in the locomotive and adapted to be set to engage the desired arm in accordance with thetravel of the train.

2. A coal loading device comprisinga hopperjarranged above the track, a bottom hinged thereon, means w carried by the bottom forautomatically closing the same when the load has been discharged, a latchbar for latchingjthe'botto'm in closed'position, cables connected to' said latch bar for (men ating the "same, a plurality of arms pivoted above the track and'connected to said cables, said arms being of difi'erent lengths with the arnr' ofgreatest length nearest the hopper,

and meanscarried by the engine to select-ive'ly operate either of said arms.

3. A coal loading device comprising a hopper, arranged above theftr'ack, a hinged bottom therefor, means for holding the bottom in closed position, a cable for tripping said means, a plurality of arms pivoted above the track and connected with said cable and I said arms being of difierent lengths with the arm of greatest length arranged nearest the hopper,'means carried by the engine to selectivelyoperate either of said arms in accordance with the travel of the train, and said means comprising a trip element carried by the locomotive for vertical adjustment at the will of the engineer, and means for holding the element at the desired degree of elevation torthe purpose specified.

In testimonywhereof I afiix my signature.

S; LLOYD BQULDIN. 

